ddpatrick7

My husband, 2 kids (ages 4 and 7) will be staying in Tahoe for 11 days at the end of November. We are staying at the Marriott TimberLodge for a week. We need somewhere else to stay for the remaining time. We were not planning on using a rental car in South Tahoe. We are debating between spending the remaining time at:

1. Embassy Suites in South Tahoe
2. Going over to Yosemite Park (would need a rental car then)
3. Going to Incline Village (would need a rental car then too)

What would you suggest? Any other ideas? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,
Deanna

utahtea

Depending on mountain snow fall before the end of November, Tioga Pass in Yosemite (186 miles) could be closed (see Tioga Pass opening and closing dates since 1980 - http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm ) If it is closed, then you would have to take either Carson Pass (Hwy88) at 200 miles or Hwy 50 at 205 miles. These routes are just a little farther.

Any way you go, it's going to be at least a 4 1/2 to 5 hour drive so it's not really a day trip from S. Lake Tahoe. If you need a place to stay, I'd recommend spending at least two night in Yosemite Valley (3 would be so much better!)

Utahtea

kimamom

We stayed at the Timber Lodge in May, it's a gorgeous property. I hope you're able to make it over to Incline, very pretty area of Lake Tahoe. The Hyatt is a nice place for lunch and a spa treatment. The scenery from the pier there is very pretty. Have fun! ***kim***

Supercilious

"My husband, 2 kids (ages 4 and 7) will be staying in Tahoe for 11 days at the end of November."

This seems an odd choice for a vacation especially without a car. What activities are you planning? The days are real short, it can be very cold, and there probably will not be enough snow for winter activities yet.

A few days would be great but 11? Also, for that legnth of time, a condo would make more sense budget wise than a hotel. Eating in restaurants with young children for every meal can get very old fast.

ddpatrick7

We were originally planning on staying for 8 days. I wanted to use my Amex points for airfare and in order to do that we needed to extend our stay. Airfare would have been over $2000 for the 4 of us. I read that the skiing starts the weekend before Thanksgiving and if there isn't real snow then they make it. Is there another area that you would suggest for the last few days? We are flying in and out of Reno. We basically would have 3 extra days to spend somewhere.

We were planning on skiing for 3 or 4 days, snowmobiling, sledding, ice skating, cruise, and relaxing.

Thanks for the input and advice. Please keep it coming!!!

Deanna

FainaAgain

I don't remember the name of the company, but I found it by searching the Internet, they have tours in mini-vans picking up at the hotels (and dropping off, or course!)

I remember we took a bus tour around the lake on Tuesday, very educational and great picture stops, also a stop in the Squaw Valley (Olympic village) and a lunch stop in Truckee.

Also check out if there are cruises at this time, will the lake be frozen? I have no idea, sorry

The skiing cable should be working then, so even if you don't ski, go up for the views.

Check out entertainment at Harrahs, Harveys, Horizon and Mont blue - these are the 4 main casinos with shows and movies (Horizon).

janisj

November is an iffy time at Tahoe. There may or may not be much skiing - depending on recent snowfalls. Some resorts do make snow - but if there isn't much snow pack many don't open.

But you can pretty much count on Tioga Pass being closed so the drive to Yosemite will be long and roundabout.

I Love Tahoe and go for about 2-3 weeks every year in May and Oct plus the odd weekend year round. In November it would be hard for me to come up w/ things for a family to fill 11 days. Especially if there isn't much snow. The resorts pray for heavy snow before Thasnksgiving and about half of the time they get it . . . .

jamesr3939

I am not a skier but as I recall there is only one or two resorts that make snow and the main one is up at north shore at Truckee.

Even then they still need a base and it has to be cold enough at night for the water to freeze and like everybody else said the end of November could be iffy.

Embassy Suites is just like all the other ES. It is directly in downtown next to all the big casinos.

The kids would probably enjoy Yosemite Park more and you can get there fairly easy from Lake Tahoe without worrying about the snow closing the passess.

crefloors

Boreal Ridge is usually the first place to open IF it's cold enough to make snow. They aren't at the lake however. They are just west of Truckee on HW 80.

MichelleY

With kids the age of yours, stop in to Boomtown, just outside of Reno. They have an arcade geared towards their age group, an indoor carousel, small ferris wheel, mini golf. My daughter always loved it until she was about 12!!!

MY

utahtea

In mid November they have ice skating in Yosemite Valley.

http://www.yosemitepark.com/Activiti...ceSkating.aspx

Doesn't look like skiing opens up in Yosemite till mid-December.

As others have said, November can be real iffy for snow.

Utahtea

lvk

For your last few days, you might look into Northstar at Tahoe. www.northstarattahoe.com Very family friendly.